The consumption of antioxidants protects against cognitive and physical disabilities in aged with obesity.

INTRODUCTION: antioxidants play an important role in the antioxidant defense system. Obesity and the aging process increase oxidative stress. The disruption of the oxidant-antioxidant balance towards oxidant condition could be related to cognitive and physical disabilities. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the consumption of antioxidants, the oxidative stress status and their relationship with cognitive and functional alterations in aged with obesity. METHOD: a cross-sectional study was conducted with 94 subjects ≥ 60 years stratified by body mass index (BMI) (76.6% were women). The antioxidants intake as well as cognitive and functional status were evaluated by validated surveys. The oxidative stress markers were thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid-hydroperoxides (LOOH). RESULTS: the antioxidants consumption of the participants was below the recommended daily intakes (RDI) independently of the BMI group. Especially, a lower consumption of vitamins E and D, selenium and ß-carotenes was observed. The concentration of TBARS was higher (p < 0.05) in the obese (1.2 µM) versus the normal weight group (0.7 µM). The concentration of LOOH in the normal weight group (17 µM) did not show statistical difference versus obese group (15 µM). The presence of obesity in aged showed an association with walking difficulties. Multivariable analysis adjusted for several variables showed that the intake of selenium, copper and magnesium is associated with lower risk of cognitive and physical disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: aged with obesity showed a higher concentration of peripheral TBARS, walking difficulties and lower intake of antioxidants. The consumption of copper, selenium, and magnesium seems to protect against cognitive and physical disabilities in aged with obesity.

The consumption of antioxidants protects against cognitive and physical disabilities in aged with obesity / El consumo de los antioxidantes protege de discapacidades cognitivas y físicas en ancianos con obesidad

Introduction: antioxidants play an important role in the antioxidant defense system. Obesity and the aging process increase oxidative stress. The disruption of the oxidant-antioxidant balance towards oxidant condition could be related to cognitive and physical disabilities. Objective: to evaluate the consumption of antioxidants, the oxidative stress status and their relationship with cognitive and functional alterations in aged with obesity. Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted with 94 subjects ≥ 60 years stratified by body mass index (BMI) (76.6% were women). The antioxidants intake as well as cognitive and functional status were evaluated by validated surveys. The oxidative stress markers were thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid-hydroperoxides (LOOH).Results: the antioxidants consumption of the participants was below the recommended daily intakes (RDI) independently of the BMI group. Especially, a lower consumption of vitamins E and D, selenium and β-carotenes was observed. The concentration of TBARS was higher (p < 0.05) in the obese (1.2 μM) versus the normal weight group (0.7 μM). The concentration of LOOH in the normal weight group (17 μM) did not show statistical difference versus obese group (15 μM). The presence of obesity in aged showed an association with walking difficulties. Multivariable analysis adjusted for several variables showed that the intake of selenium, copper and magnesium is associated with lower risk of cognitive and physical disabilities. Conclusions: aged with obesity showed a higher concentration of peripheral TBARS, walking difficulties and lower intake of antioxidants. The consumption of copper, selenium, and magnesium seems to protect against cognitive and physical disabilities in aged with obesity

Introducción: los antioxidantes son indispensables en el sistema de defensa antioxidante. La obesidad y el envejecimiento aumentan el estrés oxidativo. El desequilibrio del balance oxidante-antioxidante hacia una condición oxidante se relaciona con discapacidad cognitiva y física. Objetivos: evaluar la ingesta de antioxidantes, el estrés oxidativo y su relación con el estado cognitivo y funcional en ancianos con obesidad. Métodos: estudio transversal en 94 personas ≥ 60 años estratificadas por índice de masa corporal (IMC) (el 76,6% fueron mujeres). La ingesta de antioxidantes, el estado funcional y el estado cognitivo fueron evaluados con pruebas validadas. Los marcadores de estrés oxidativo fueron las sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) e hidroperóxidos lipídicos (LOOH).Resultados: la ingesta de antioxidantes de los participantes fue menor a la ingesta diaria recomendada (IDR), independientemente del grupo de IMC. La concentración de TBARS fue mayor (p < 0,05) en el grupo con obesidad (1,2 μM) en comparación con el grupo de peso normal (0,7 μM). La concentración de LOOH no fue estadísticamente diferente entre el grupo de peso normal (17 μM) y el grupo con obesidad (15 μM). La obesidad en ancianos se asoció a dificultad al caminar. El análisis multivariado ajustado por múltiples variables mostró que la ingesta de selenio, cobre y magnesio se asocia con menor riesgo de discapacidad cognitiva y física. Conclusiones: los ancianos con obesidad mostraron mayores concentraciones periféricas de TBARS, dificultad al caminar y una ingesta de antioxidantes deficiente. El consumo de cobre, selenio y magnesio parece proteger de discapacidades cognitivas y físicas a los ancianos

Soy protein affects serum insulin and hepatic SREBP-1 mRNA and reduces fatty liver in rats.

The consumption of soy protein was shown to reduce blood lipids in humans and other animal species. Furthermore, it was shown that the ingestion of soy protein maintains normal insulinemia. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to determine whether soy protein affects the synthesis of lipids in the liver through sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) due to modulation of insulin levels. We first conducted a short-term study in which rats were fed a diet containing 18 g/100 g soy protein or casein for 10 d. Rats fed soy protein had significantly lower serum insulin concentrations than rats fed casein, and this response was accompanied by an elevation in hepatic SREBP-1 mRNA that was 53% lower than that in rats fed casein at d 10. The increase in SREBP-1 mRNA occurred 30 min after consumption of the casein mean, and increased steadily for the next 2 h. We then conducted a second study to assess the long-term effect of soy protein consumption for 150 d on hepatic SREBP-1 expression. Long-term consumption of soy protein maintained normal insulin concentrations compared with rats fed casein, which were hyperinsulinemic. Thus, rats fed the soy protein diet had significantly lower expression of SREBP-1 mRNA than rats fed the casein diet. Soy protein intake also reduced the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and malic enzyme, leading to low hepatic lipid depots of triglycerides and cholesterol, whereas rats fed the casein diet developed fatty liver. These data suggest that soy protein regulates SREBP-1 expression by modulating serum insulin concentration, thus preventing the development of fatty liver.